Llorente urges Alvarez to rediscover scoring touch after Atletico defeat

Marcos Llorente says Atletico de Madrid need Julian Alvarez to return to his best after their 3-0 LaLiga defeat by Athletic Club on Saturday, 5 September.

The Argentina international was introduced from the bench during the final 31 minutes at Athletic Club, but Atletico were already 2-0 behind by the time Diego Simeone sent on the 26-year-old striker. Alvarez was unable to make a decisive impact as his side suffered a heavy defeat.

Llorente, speaking to ESPN after the match, acknowledged the importance of Alvarez to Atletico’s attack and said the club must help him regain full confidence and fitness as quickly as possible.

“He (Julian) is a very important player for us,” Llorente said.

“He knows it. He'll come in little by little, and the sooner the better, because we need his goals. We have to support him so he's at 100% soon.”

Alvarez spent the summer seeking a move to LaLiga rivals Barcelona, but Atletico de Madrid refused to approve the transfer. He has since returned to the squad under Simeone, although his involvement in the league has been managed carefully.

The forward has appeared in two of Atletico’s four league matches so far, coming on as a substitute on both occasions. His latest appearance came in difficult circumstances, with Athletic Club already holding a two-goal advantage before he entered the game.

Despite Alvarez’s return, Atletico could not change the course of the match and ultimately lost 3-0. The result highlighted the pressure on the club’s attacking players, with Llorente making clear that Alvarez’s goals remain an important part of the team’s plans.

Llorente’s comments also reflected Atletico’s intention to support the striker as he gradually works his way back into a more prominent role. Rather than demanding an immediate return to the starting line-up, the midfielder said Alvarez would be reintroduced “little by little”, while stressing that the sooner he reaches full readiness, the better it will be for the team.

For now, Simeone has used Alvarez from the bench in two of his four league appearances. Against Athletic Club, however, the forward had limited opportunity to influence the contest after Atletico fell behind early enough for the game to become a challenging recovery task.

The defeat leaves Atletico needing a response, while Llorente’s assessment underlines the value they place on Alvarez’s contribution. His message was straightforward: Atletico need the Argentina international’s goals and will support him while he works towards returning to 100%.